Peddi Director Responds to Criticism Over Janhvi Kapoor’s Portrayal: ‘We’ll Be More Careful’

Peddi Director Acknowledges Backlash Over Janhvi Kapoor’s Character, Says Team Will Be More Careful

Director Buchi Babu Sana has responded to the criticism surrounding Peddi, admitting that he did not expect the film’s portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor to draw such a strong negative reaction from audiences.

Speaking about the controversy, Buchi Babu said the filmmakers intended to depict a playful romantic track between Janhvi Kapoor’s character and that of Ram Charan. However, he acknowledged that viewers interpreted the scenes differently and assured that the team would be more mindful in future representations.

“I had not anticipated that the scenes would be perceived so negatively by audiences. The idea was to showcase a playful romance story between Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. However, we’ll be more careful and make better representations,” the filmmaker said.

Scenes Draw Criticism Online

The debate began after scenes from the film surfaced online, with several viewers taking issue with the way Janhvi Kapoor’s character is introduced and spoken about by the male lead.

Critics on social media argued that some dialogues focus heavily on the character’s physical attributes, while others questioned the depiction of certain romantic interactions shown in the film. These scenes quickly sparked discussions about gender representation and storytelling choices in mainstream commercial cinema.

Social Media Users Voice Concerns

The portrayal drew sharp reactions from several users on X, with many describing the characterisation as objectifying and outdated. Some questioned the creative decisions behind the scenes, while others argued that modern audiences expect more nuanced portrayals of female characters.

One user wrote that the sequence reflected the filmmaker’s sensibilities and wondered why such scenes were approved by the cast and crew. Another described the character’s presentation as “disappointing,” while several others criticised what they saw as an excessive focus on the heroine’s appearance.

Larger Conversation Around Representation

The controversy has triggered a broader discussion about how women are portrayed in commercial films and whether certain storytelling tropes continue to have a place in contemporary cinema.

While the makers have defended the scenes as part of a romantic narrative, the strong online response has highlighted changing audience expectations regarding consent, character agency and the depiction of relationships on screen.

With Peddi generating significant buzz ahead of its release, the conversation around Janhvi Kapoor’s character has become one of the film’s most discussed aspects, prompting the director to publicly acknowledge the criticism and promise greater care in future portrayals.